Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that the blockade of the Polish border by Polish truckers and farmers demonstrated the
“erosion of solidarity”
towards his country.
“What is happening on our western border, the border with Poland, cannot be considered normal or ordinary,”
he said.
This demonstrates
“the erosion of everyday solidarity”
.
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For weeks, Polish farmers have been trying to prevent imports of cargo from Ukraine, to protest what they say is unfair competition.
This quarrel has strained relations between kyiv and Warsaw, which has been one of Ukraine's most fervent supporters since the start of the Russian invasion.
Road traffic with Poland has been crucial since the start of this war to allow Ukrainian companies to continue to export.
But this has angered Polish farmers and transport companies, who complain about Ukrainian tariffs, with which they cannot compete.
“In reality, it is not a question of cereals, but rather of politics,”
said President Zelensky, assuring that only 5% of his country's agricultural exports crossed the Polish border.
A complete blockage
Six border crossings are blocked on the Polish side, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Monday, saying on Facebook that it was a
“direct threat to the security of a country forced to defend itself”
.
“They block everything.
Some trucks transport fuel.
A few days ago, demonstrators prevented the passage of several trucks loaded with weapons
,” Mr. Kubrakov said in an interview on Ukrainian public television.
According to a Polish official, around 600 trucks are waiting to cross from Poland to Ukraine at the Dorohusk border crossing.
According to Michal Derus, customs spokesperson for the Polish city of Lublin, two dozen trucks crossed the border with Ukraine overnight, but
"no trucks entered Poland
. "
“We can therefore assume that it is a complete blockade
,” he added.
The situation is expected to get even worse on Tuesday, when Polish farmers plan to call for a complete blockade of the border between the two countries.